Araneus wanghuai, Mi & Wang & Gan, 2023

Mi, Xiaoqi, Wang, Cheng & Gan, Jiahui, 2023, Six new species of the orb-weaver spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) and a redescription of A. colubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 from Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China, ZooKeys 1173, pp. 243-273 : 243

Araneus wanghuai sp. nov.

Figs 9 , 10 , 16A-D , 17

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (TRU- Araneidae -213), China: Guizhou Province, Tongren City, Yinjiang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Ziwei Township, Dayuanzhi Village, Huguosi (27°54.72'N, 108°28.62'E, ca 1500 m), 9.V.2021, X.Q. Mi et al. leg. Paratypes: 2♂2♀ (TRU- Araneidae -214-217), same data as for holotype; 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -218), same locality as holotype, 24.IV.2020, X.Q. Mi & C. Wang leg.; 9♀ (TRU- Araneidae -219-227), Mianxüling (27°54.89'N, 108°40.17'E, ca 1790 m), 14.VI.2019, C. Wang & J.H. Gan leg.; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -228), Mianxüling (27°54.89'N, 108°40.17'E, ca 1790 m), 23.VII.2021, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 3♂2♀ (TRU- Araneidae -229-233), Mianxüling (27°54.83'N, 108°40.03'E, ca 2000 m), 9.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.; 1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -234), Muhuang Township, Jinchang Village, Maxi’ao (28°1.37'N, 108°45.00'E, ca 1340 m), 26.IV.2020, X.Q. Mi & C. Wang leg.; 2♂ (TRU- Araneidae -235-236), same locality, 10.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.

Other material examined.

1♂ (TRU- Araneidae -237), China: Guizhou Province, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture , Leishan County, Danjiang Township , Xiannütang, Leigongshan National Nature Reserve (26°22.38'N, 108°11.87'E, ca 1550 m), 29.IV.2018, X.Q. Mi et al. leg .; 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -238), Danjiang Township, Leigongshan National Nature Reserve (26°22.86'N, 108°11.79'E, ca 1790 m), 30.IV.2018, X.Q. Mi et al. leg .

Comparative material.

Araneus albabdominalis Zhu, Zhang, Zhang & Chen, 2005, 1♂ 1♀ (TRU- Araneidae -239-240), Huguosi (27°54.54'N, 108°46.57'E, ca 1660 m), 9.V.2020, X.Q. Mi et al. leg.

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles A. albabdominalis Zhu, Zhang, Zhang & Chen, 2005 in genital structures, but differs in: 1) distal embolic lamella slightly clockwise curved in prolateral view (Fig. 10A ) vs anti-clockwise curved ( Zhu et al. 2005: fig. 3D); 2) embolus curved distally (Fig. 10A ) vs almost straight ( Zhu et al. 2005: fig. 3D); 3) copulatory openings located at lateral surface (Fig. 9C ) vs at ventral surface ( Zhu et al. 2005: fig. 3B); 4) scape with nearly parallel sides (Fig. 9A ) vs twisted into an S-shape ( Zhu et al. 2005: fig. 3B); 5) female abdomen with a pair of lateral humps (Fig. 9E ) vs lacking ( Zhu et al. 2005: fig. 3A); 6) dorsal abdomen with pale patches (Fig. 9E, G ) vs unicolor ( Zhu et al. 2005: fig. 3A); and 7) yellow in life vs pale green in life.

Description.

Male (holotype, Figs 9G, H , 10 , 16A-D ). Total length 3.15. Carapace 1.75 long, 1.40 wide. Abdomen 2.00 long, 1.50 wide. Clypeus 0.10 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.08, PME 0.10, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.13, AME-ALE 0.13, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.18, MOA length 0.28, anterior width 0.25, posterior width 0.28. Leg measurements: I 6.20 (1.95, 2.10, 1.55, 0.60), II 5.95 (1.85, 2.00, 1.50, 0.60), III 3.30 (1.10, 1.00, 0.75, 0.45), IV 4.55 (1.50, 1.45, 1.10, 0.50). Carapace pear-shaped, yellow with yellowish brown bilateral sides, cervical groove slightly obvious, fovea longitudinal. Chelicerae yellow, four promarginal teeth and three retromarginal teeth. Endites square, with tooth-like process laterally, labium triangular, both yellow with pale tip. Sternum cordiform, yellow with dark setae. Legs yellow to yellowish brown, without annulus, tibia I with 12 macrosetae, tibia II with 12 macrosetae, tibia III with ten macrosetae, tibia IV with ten macrosetae. Abdomen oval, ~ 1.33 × longer than wide, with a pair of lateromarginal humps on anterior surface, dorsum grayish yellow with a pair of longitudinal, white stripes anteriorly, and a whitish yellow transverse band medially, and four pairs of dark spots posterolaterally; venter grayish yellow. Spinnerets grayish yellow.

Pedipalp (Fig. 10 ): with basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis large, triangular with two point tips; embolus stout at base, curved medially and tapered to a pointed tip, with a long, sclerotized embolic lamella; conductor weakly sclerotized, with a spur at base; terminal apophysis large, heavily sclerotized, with dozens of denticles.

Female (paratype TRU- Araneidae -214, Fig. 9A-F ). Total length 4.40. Carapace 1.85 long, 1.50 wide. Abdomen 3.10 long, 3.25 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.08, PME 0.13, PLE 0.08, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.18, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.25, MOA length 0.33, anterior width 0.28, posterior width 0.30. Leg measurements: I 5.85 (1.80, 2.10, 1.40, 0.55), II 5.55 (1.75, 1.95, 1.30, 0.55), III 3.45 (1.15, 1.15, 0.70, 0.45), IV 4.95 (1.70, 1.65, 1.10, 0.50). Habitus similar to that of male but the abdomen slightly wider than long, and dorsal abdomen with a large triangular pale patch.

Epigyne (Fig. 9A-D ): scape with nearly parallel sides, distal end spoon shaped; copulatory openings elliptical, on lateral surface; copulatory ducts expanded, almost straight, longer than the spermatheca; spermathecae oval, nearly touching.

Variation.

Total length: ♂♂ 3.15-3.30 (n = 11); ♀♀ 3.55-4.40 (n = 15). Dark spots on abdomen sometimes inconspicuous.

Distribution.

Guizhou (Yinjiang, Leishan).

Comments.

The female abdomen wide oval with a pair of anterior lateral humps, the long, ridged scape, and the male pedipalp with a wide terminal apophysis indicate that the new species belongs to the A. diadenmatus group.

Etymology.

The species is named after Mr. Hua Wang (Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau), who assisted greatly in field trips; noun in genitive case.

Figures

Figure 9. Araneus wanghuai sp. nov. A-F female paratype TRU- Araneidae - 214 G, H male holotype A epigyne, ventral view B ibid., posterior view C ibid., lateral view D vulva, anterior view E habitus, dorsal view F ibid., ventral view G ibid., dorsal view H ibid., lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A-D); 1 mm (E-H). Abbreviations: CD copulatory duct, CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct, Sc scape, Sp spermatheca.

Figure 10. Araneus wanghuai sp. nov. male holotype A pedipalp, prolateral view B ibid., retrolateral view C ibid., ventral view D ibid., apical view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: C conductor, E embolus, EL embolic lamella, MA median apophysis, ST subterminal apophysis, TA terminal apophysis.

Figure 16. Legs of Araneus spp. male holotypes, prolateral view A-D A. wanghuai sp. nov. E-H A. yangchuandongi sp. nov. I-L A. yuboi sp. nov. A, E, I legs I B, F, J legs II C, G, K legs III D, H, L legs IV. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 17. Distribution map of the species.